Buying Train Tickets Point-to-Point Once I Arrive in Europe?

Hi,

Forget these so-called horror stories on using US credit cards. In Germany the DB ticket machines accept them. Germany and Austria are the most accommodating countries to US credit cards, just read the instructions or follow the picto-grams carefully on the ticket machine. When I buy point to point tickets in Germany, I use an American magnetic stripe or chip and signature credit card (which we all have) or I use sometimes cash...depends. With the US credit card the purchase always goes through...no problems at all. That won't work in Belgium and Amsterdam..true. Use cash there, even at a staffed ticket counter. No need to get a rail Pass since your trip is not long enough, ie over 3 weeks.

I had some trouble using my AFCU pin and chip in the German ticket machines (dunno why) but my magnetic strip card worked fine if I gave it 3 tries. At a desk should be fine.
The ticket to Cologne from Frankfurt airport can be pricey if you go with the high speed line. Take the route along the Rhine with an IC train or even a Mittelrheinbahn for better scenery and less money, but a longer trip time wise. The MRB trains make all the stops, so that could take a while. IC trains will stop at Mainz, Koblenz and Bonn. Make sure to get a window seat on the right hand side in the direction the train is going.

Passes: Eurail Benelux-Germany passes are not widely sold in Europe, it at all. If you want it, buy it here for home delivery before you leave. It's pretty easy to use in those countries, since the only trains on your route that require you to reserve seats (with separate fee of about $25) are the Thalys brand. You can choose a non-Thalys train departure from Cologne to Brussels/Bruges and from there to Amsterdam.

Tickets: Thalys trains can also be more expensive if you're buying tickets as you go, or like most long-distance trains, they offer advance-purchase discounts. German train tickets are easy to buy through the DB web site or in train stations, whenever your plan is set. You can buy several tickets at any one station, if you wish.

Amsterdam and other Netherlands train stations don't take credit cards without a chip and PIN, but they take cash just fine. If you buy tickets ahead in Germany, Belgium, or online, you would avoid that process in the busy Amsterdam Centraal station.

I wish to emphasis, buying what you call "Point-to-Point" tickets, at the station is the normal way to buy tickets.
Passes are for tourists, not what the locals use. Until recently you bought at the station on the day and paid cash. In the last few years for long distance trains advance purchase over the Internet has boomed, but for local trips where there is no price advantage for buying early, buying on the day at a machine or from the manned ticket counter is normal.
Always have enough cash on you to pay for the ticket, then you won't be stuck if your card is refused.

Simply make your first stop the very helpful DB ticket office in the airport to purchase point to point tickets. This is found at the top of the escalator that leads down to the regional trains. The customer service agents speak English and will be happy to assist you with your tickets. Don't let worries about how to buy tickets bother you. I promise that you will be able to do this without difficulties. All of the places you mention will have customer service/ticket offices in the train stations if you have any problems with ticket machines.

So glad that you are getting to take this trip.

You can save money on the Amsterdam-Bruges leg by taking an inter-city train to Antwerp instead of the high-speed Thalys, and travelling direct from there to Bruges instead of changing in Brussels.